Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)

Inspired by Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth,” Kip
Andersen changed his lifestyle to reflect a new consciousness of environmental
concerns.He later realized that despite
these changes, there was another important environmental concern that needed to
be addressed, although many environmentalists were not talking about it: animal
agriculture, or factory farming.

In Cowspiracy: The
Sustainability Secret (2014), he set out, along with fellow filmmaker Keegan
Kuhn, to obtain information about animal agriculture and its relationship with
climate change.Along the way, he spoke
with leaders in the environmental movement and uncovered what he began to view
as “an intentional refusal to discuss the issue of animal agriculture, while
industry whistleblowers and watchdogs warn[ed] him of the risks to his freedom
and even his life if he dare[d] to persist.”

According to the Huffington Post, “[Andersen] pulls no
punches and makes no apologies: ‘The future of our planet is being destroyed by
this industry.’ Hard to argue with the data.”The film includes interviews with Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A
Natural History of Four Meals), Dr. Will Tuttle (The World Peace Diet),
and Dr. Richard Oppenlander (Food
Choice and Sustainability).

There will be a screening panel and discussion at
UCLA with the filmmakers Andersen and Kuhn on February 26th
at 5pm.The event will be moderated by
Associate Professor Janet O'Shea, from the Department of World Arts and
Cultures/Dance.